Tripodal gun support



Feb. 8, 1966 R. N. MORRISON 3,233,517

TRIPODAL GUN SUPPORT Filed Sept. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR Haber} A! Harrison.

Feb. 8, 1966 R. N. MORRISON TRIPODAL GUN SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1964 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,233,517 TRIPGDAL GUN SUPPGRT Robert N. Morrison, 1209 New St., Marshaliton, Wilmington, Del. Filed Sept. 8, 1964, er. No. 396,473 9 Claims. (Ci. 8940) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 300,887, filed August 8, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to both guns and the art of supporting objects by means of a solid member.

Anyone examining a gun magazine or going through a gun catalog will note the lack of advertising of any gun support which can be used for the purpose of varmint shooting, still hunting, or occasional target shooting. While it is admittedly true that there is some advertising of gun supports in trade and sports magazines and catalogs, they all appear to be complicated and expensive devices of value only to the most experienced bench rest shooter. These are, as a rule, precision equipment and not easily or quickly adjustable for a prone or sitting shot.

Therefore, the main reason for this invention is to provide a gun support which can be used for Varmint shooting, still hunting, or occasional target shooting.

Another reason for this invention is to provide a gun support of the tripcdal type, a type of support which is obviously best suited for this purpose.

Another reason for this invention is to provide a tripodal gun support that does not have any complicated mechanisms for its adjustment.

Another reason for this invention is to provide a tripodal gun support that does not have any complicated a compact unit, without the need of tools, for hand transportation.

.Another reason for this invention is to provide a tripodal gun support that does not have any complicated pistol may be supported without the employment of adapters of any kind.

Still another reason for this invention is to provide a tripodal gun support that is adjustable both vertically and radially for the support of a gun.

The various features of novelty will hereinafter be pointed out in the claims; but, for a full understanding of the invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

FIGURE 1 is a perspective up and ready for use.

FIGURE 2 is a top ready for use.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of that portion g; tgis invention indicated by the arrowed lines in FIG- FIGURE 4 is a invention.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are perspective views of this invention in actual use. The gun in each view is shown in phantom lines.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of another embodiment of view of this invention set up and perspective view of one detail of this my invention, this involving the elimination of element 19 shown in FIGURE 4, a simplification that results in weight and cost reductions.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section of another embodiment of my invention which provides a means for stabilizing member 16 when it is in operative position.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse section through the supporting tube 16 showing the set screw 17 entering as a wedge to cause expansion of the split tube 16.

FIGURE 10 is a transverse section similar to that of til view of this invention set V ice FIGURE 9 but showing the set screw 17 in a withdrawn position.

The drawing accompanying this specification discloses a preferred embodiment of this invention of a tripodal gun support that is designated bythe numeral 10, and which comprises legs 11, each one of which is hingedly secured to the tube support member 12 by means of a bolt 13. The aforesaid tube support block 12 is made from round bar stock 14, having a vertically disposed center opening 15 that is square when viewed, from the end, although it may be of any cross-sectional shape as long as it is the same that that of the tube 16, which is adjustably mounted therein and secured by means of the knurled headed screw 17. Three horizontally disposed lugs 18 are socured to the tube supporLmember 12 in radial spaced relation to each other. Each lug 18, in addition, is pro vided with a vertically disposed stop block 19 on the outer end thereof, against which normally rests an opposing stop block 20, that is near the outer end of, and integral with, the leg 11, the upper end of each aforesaid leg being U-shaped in order to receive the outer end of one of the aforesaid lugs 18. Each lug 18 and each upper end of a leg has an inclined opening therein for the reception of the already mentioned bolt 13. The just described round bar stock 14 and lugs 18 may all be made from one piece of material, if so desired, since these detailed parts go to make up what has previously been called the tube support member 12.

A gun support member 21, which is preferably, al-

though not necessarily a casing, is for reasons of weight, a hollow member having a ccncaved upper and outer end surface 22 and an eccentric hand lever 23 in the opposite end thereof that is pivoted on the bolt 24 that is used to secure the aforesaid gun support member 21 in any desired position along the aforesaid tube 16. The spring 25, of course, holds the aforesaid eccentric hand lever 23 in the desired clamping position.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the distance from the center of the outermost end of the two of the legs 11 of this tripodal gun support member 11 must be the same as the distance fromthe aforesaid concaved upper and outer end of the gun support member 11 to the center of the outermost end of the third leg 11. These two equal distances are indicated on FIGURE 2 by the capital letter A. i

The already well-described gun support member 21 may have its upper surface covered with either felt, cork, or some other shock absorbing material, not only to deaden the shock from the firing of the gun, but also to keep one from accidentally scarring either the stock or the metal the omission of the stop blocks 19 on the lugs 18 at' tached to the periphery of the support member 12. This alternate version is illustrated in FIGURE 7. In this figure, elements already shown in the other figures of the drawing are designated by the same legends. Thus, similar to the elements shown in FIGURE 4, the legend or numeral 12 represents the support member with a vertically disposed square center opening 15 for receiving the rigid tubular element 16. Two of the three'lugs 18 are shown on the periphery of the support member. One of the lugs is shown with a section of one of the three legs 27 fitted to the lug by means of a bolt 2% which passes through a hole in the lug and swingably through a corresponding hole in the leg, the leg being positioned on the side of the lug. The leg is also provided with an elevated portion 29 which contains a threaded hole therethrough and -a set screw 39 which passes through said hole and thereby adjustably abuts the wall of the support member. This embodiment functions similarly to that previously described and illustrated in theother figures of the drawing but oifers an alternate version of the leg construction, the connection of the legs to the lugs and the means for ertical adjustment of the legs, the latter distinction being evident in the omission of the stop block 19 as shown in FIGURE 4.

The drawings illustrate the vertical rigid element as being square in shape but as stated above, it may be of any cross sectional shape as long as it is the same as the opening in the support member. Thus, it may be multisided such as hexagonal, octagonal, etc., round or rectangular, provided the opening in the support member corresponds.

The way in which this invention of mine is used is so clearly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawing as to need little, of any, additional explanation other than to say that it is obvious from the drawing that this tripodal gun support may be carried in a closed position, and on arrival at the place of use, the knurled headed screw 17 is loosened so the tube support block 12 can be slid to the bottom of tube 16. Knurled headed screw 17 is then locked in position, and the three legs 11 of this invention swung down in the position indicated in the aforesaid FIGURES 5 and 6, and, if necessary, their holding bolt 13 may be tightened. If uneven terrain makes it necessary to level support, the legs 11 are positioned by merely adjusting the stop screw 26. The gun is now rested upon the concaved upper and outer end 22 of the gun support member 21, which is slidably moved up or down, as desired, on the aforesaid tube 16, to which it is securely locked by the eccentric hand lever 23.

In another modification the support 16 is split at its bottommost section as shown in FIGURE 8 by slot 32. This slot is a cut all the way through the given wall 33 as shown in FIGURE and as shown in that figure it has a beveled spot or walls 34 to match the incoming beveled walls 35 of screw 17. Further, the opposite wall 36 of tube 16 contains a similar slot 37 except that there is no corresponding beveled spot 34.

FIGURE 9 shows the set screw entering the wedge spot 34. As it is tightened, it will cause the split sides of 15 to spread outwardly. Arrows 38 are shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 to indicate the movement. Spreading occurs in both walls 33 and as and the given Wall sections being contained within housing 12 push against the inside walls of housing 12. This holds the support 16, which has been raised as shown in FIGURE 1, very steady so that it does not rock in any direction. It is, of course, possible to place a plurality of set screws 17 around housing 12, one to bear against each wall of a square tube 16, but the single action alforded by the split embodiment just described is preferred.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 using one set screw 17 which enters hole 39 (FIGURE 7) in housing 12 there is a notch 40 on the lower edge of housing 12. This notch 4-6 receives and abuts against knob or stop 41 when support 16 is being raised. This prevents one from completely removing support 16 from housing 12.

In the split tube embodiment the notch 40 and the stop 41 are moved over 90-that is, they are not contained on the walls 33 or 34 bearing the slots 32 and 37, respectively. This is shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. It is to be appreciated that in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7 the set screw 17 and the slot/stop ill/41) elements need not be aligned as shown and that set screw 17 can be placed quite apart from th stop means. For convenience, the hole 39 and the groove 4i? are made at the same wall section. Still further, in the split embodiment of support 16, a split wall can carry knob 41 for the groove 4t and its stop 41 need not be centered as shown in FIGURE 7, but it is preferred to place them apart from and not on the split Walls since this affords maximum spreading of the split walls.

Without further description, it is thought that the inven tion will be readily understood and that the various advantages of the same will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. It is desired to point out, however, while only certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is readily capable of being carried into practice in specifically different forms within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tripodal gun support of the character described, comprising a square tube mounted vertically in a tube support member to which is swingably secured three legs, the said tube support member comprising a piece of round bar stock having a square opening vertically therethrough, in which the lower end of the said square tube is inserted and secured by means of a knurled headed screw and three lugs in radial spaced relation secured to the periphery of'the said round bar stock, each one of the said lugs being provided with a stop block and an opening, through which passes a bolt that also passes through the upper end of each leg which is U-shaped at that point for swinga'ole securement to the said lug by the said bolt, and an opposing stop block projecting upward from the said leg and directly in line with the said stop block on the said lug, and a stop screw passing through the said opposing stop block, thereby providing a means of vertical adjustment of each said leg, and a gun support member slidably and adjustably mounted on the said tube, to which it is secured by means of a manually operated spring-loaded eccentric hand-lever, and the upper surface of the said gun support member being concave-d in order to hold a gun rested on the same in a shooting position.

2. An article being a tripodal gun support comprising a centrally located support member having mounted on it at equidistant spaces three legs, said legs being pivotably mounted to said central support member to swing independently of each other; in the center of said central support member an opening to receive an elongated second support member; positioned in said opening and in sliding relationship to said central support member an elongated second support member; means to lock and hold said second support member in the desired position with respect to said central support member; positioned on said second support member in vertical sliding relationship therewith at its end farthest from said central support member a third support member adapted to be a rest for said gun; and means to lock and hold said third support member at the desired height on the said second support member.

3. An article in accordance with claim 2 which contains means to lock and hold said legs in desired positions with respect to said central support member and independently of other legs, said means being located at the said pivotable mounting of said leg and coasting with said central support.

4. An article in accordance with claim 2 in which a leg mounted to said central support member contains a stop means to control the said vertical movement of said leg independently of other legs, said stop means being located at the said pivotable mounting of said leg and coacting with said central support.

5. An article in accordance with claim 4 in which said stop means comprises an extension on the leg located near the top of said leg and containing a threaded bore in which is positioned a set screw adapted to bear against the said central support member.

6. An article in accordance with claim 2 in which said third support member contains a concaved section adapted to hold a gun rested in said section.

7. An article in accordance with claim 2 in which said third support member contains a manually operated spring loaded eccentric hand lever to hold and to release said support member in its said sliding relationship with said second support member.

8. An article in accordance with claim 2 in which the said elongated second support contains at its lower end a hollow, slotted section adapted to receive and to be spread apart by a set screw passing through said central support, the said spreading eifecting a locking relationship between the said elongated second support and the said central support.

9. An article being a tripodal gun support comprising a centrally located support member having an aperture in its center adapted to receive an elongated second support member and having a hole in its wall to receive a set screw and having mounted on it at equidistant spaces three legs, said legs being pivotably mounted to said central support member to swing independently of each other, each leg having a stop means located at its said pivotable mounting and coacting with said central support to hold the given leg in its respective, set position; positioned in said aperture and in sliding relationship to said central support member an elongated second support member containing at its lower end a hollow, slotted section adapted to receive a set screw; said screw adapted to spread said hollow section apart to make it bear against and be in locking relationship with the inner walls of said aperture of said central support; and positioned on said elongated second support member at its upper end and in sliding relationship with said second suppolt member a third support adapted to be a rest for said gun; and means to lock and hold said third support at the desired height on the said second support member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,196,197 8/1916 Withrow 89-37 2,945,663 7/ 1960 Stevens 248-170 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,588 12/ 1923 France. 609,373 2/ 1935 Germany.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Examiner.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,233,517 February 8, 1966 Robert N. Morrison It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 32, beginning with "Another reson for" strike out all to and including "adapters of any kind." in line 39, same column 1, and insert instead the following paragraphs:

Another reason for this invention is to provide a tripodal gun support of light weight that can be folded into a compact unit, without the need of tools, for hand transportation.

Another reason for this invention is to provide a tripodal device on which any rifle, shotgun, or longbarrel pistol may be supported without the employment of adapters of any kind.

column 2, line 12, for "that that" read as that Signed and sealed this 17th day of January 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A TRIPODAL GUN SUPPORT OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING A SQUARE TUBE MOUNTED VERTICALLY IN A TUBE SUPPORT MEMBER TO WHICH IS SWINGABLY SECURED THREE LEG THE SAID TUBE SUPPORT MEMBER COMPRISING A PIECE OF ROUND BAR STOCK HAVING A SQUARE OPENING VERTICALLY THERETHROUGH, IN WHICH THE LOWER END OF THE SAID SQUARE TUBE IS INSERTED AND SECURED BY MEANS OF A KNURLED HEADED SCREW AND THREE LUGS IN RADIAL SPACED RELATION SECURED TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE SAID ROUND BAR STOCK, EACH ONE OF THE SAID LUGS BEING PROVIDED WITH SAID STOP LOCK AND AN OPENING, THROUGH WHICH PASSES A BOLT THAT ALSO PASSES THROUGH THE UPPER END OF EACH LEG WHICH IS U-SHAPED AT THAT POINT FOR SWINGABLE SECUREMENT TO THE SAID LUGS BY THE SAID BOLT, AND AN OPPOSING STOP BLOCK PROJECTING UPWARD FROM THE SAID LEG AND DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE SAID STOP BLOCK ON THE SAID LUG, AND A STOP SCREW PASSING THROUGH THE SAID OPPOSING STOP BLOCK, THEREBY PROVIDING A MEANS OF VERTICAL ADJUSTMENTS EACH SAID LEG, AND A GUN SUPPORT MEMBER SLIDABLY AND ADJUSTBALY MOUNTED ON THE SAID TUBE, TO WHICH IT IS SECURED BY MEANS OF A MANUALLY OPERATED SPRING-LOAD ECCENTRIC HAND-LEVER, AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE SAID GUN SUPPORT MEMBER BEING CONCAVED IN ORDER TO HOLD A GUN RESTED ON THE SAME IN A SHOOTING POSITION. 